Which tree produces the spice nutmeg from its seed and mace from its aril?

The nutmeg tree produces nutmeg from its seed and mace from its red aril.

Nutmeg comes mainly from Myristica fragrans, an evergreen tree native to the Banda Islands of Indonesia. When its fruit ripens, it splits open to reveal a dark seed surrounded by a bright red, lacy covering. The dried seed is nutmeg; the dried covering is mace.

European traders prized these spices during the medieval and early modern periods, helping make the Banda Islands a major focus of the spice trade. Nutmeg is now cultivated in Indonesia, Grenada, India, and several other tropical regions.

Nutmeg and mace come from the same fruit, but they are not the same plant part. The tree is also valued for its essential oils, including compounds used in flavorings and fragrances.